Support for third rails.



E. J. BLAIR.

Patented June 4, 1912.

TUNE

EDWARD J. BLAIR, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

SUPPORT FOR THIRD RAILS.

Application filed September 2, 1911.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD J. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Supports for Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

rfhe main objects of this invention are to provide an improved, simple and inexpensive form of support for the third rails of electric railways, which is constructed so as to effectively insulate the third-rail from all of its surroundings; and to provide improved means for securing the rail in place on its support.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a thirdra-il support showing the rail in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line A-A of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the support, the lugs of t-he clamping means being shown upstanding, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the construction shown in t-he drawings, the device comprises a cylindrical standard formed of hard wood or other suitable insulating material, the lower portion of which has a downwardly flaring taper to provide an enlargement 2 to which t-he base 3 is secured. The base 3 comprises a plate or ring 4, provided with a plurality of apertures 5 for t-he reception 0f bolts or other fastening means for securing it to a foundation member or other supporting structure. An upstanding flange 6 tapered to t the flared end 2 of the standard is integrally formed on the plate 4t.

A crown or cap 7 fits over the upper end of the standard l and is secured thereto by means of the pin or bolt 8. The rail 9 is adapted to rest on the cap 7 betweeny shoulders or lugs l0 integrally formed on opposite sides of the cap 7 and spaced apart longitudinally of the rail. A slot 1l extends through the cap 7 between the spaced shoulders 10 in a direction transverse to the rail 9. A bar l2 formed of wrought metal is inserted through the slot 1l and has its ends 13 bent upwardly and inwardly to engage and hold the base portion let of the rail 9, so as to secure the rail to the cap 7.

In order to prevent water from short cir- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

*iPatented J une es, 92., Serial No. 647,377.

cuiting the rail 9 to the base 3 or any of its surroundings, an annular shirt l5 is integrally formed on the cap 7, below its connection to the standard l.

The device is assembled by passing the base 3 downwardly over the standard l and driving the enlarged end 2 of the standard into a snug fit with the tapered flange G, the dimensions of the tapered part of the standard being preferably such that when it is driven home in the base, its bottom will be substantially flush with or project slight-ly below the bottom of said base. The cap 7 is then placed on the standard l and secured by a pin or rivet 8. The bar l2 is inserted into the slot ll, and the ends 13 thereof bent upwardly to the position shown in dotted outline in F ig. 2. `When a row of the insulators has been set up, the rail 9 is placed in position so as to rest on the caps 7 and t-he ends 13 of the clamp bars are bent down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. rlhe lugs l0 prevent lateral shifting of the rail.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim l. A support for third rails, comprising a standard, a cap secured to the upper end thereof and adapted to support a rail thereon, said cap having a slot extending therethrough transversely of the rail, and aclamping member adapted to be inserted into said slot and to have the ends thereof bent over to engage the rail.

2. A support for third rails, comprising a standard, a cap secured to t-he upper end thereof and adapted to support a rail thereon, said cap having a slot extending therethrough transversely of the rail, a clamping member adapted to be inserted into said slot and to have the ends thereof bent. over to engage the rail, and shoulders at opposite sides of said clamping member adapted to abut against the edges of the rail.

3. A support for third rails, comprising a standard, a cap secured to the upper end of said standard, and adapted to support a rail thereon, spaced integral shoulders on opposite sides of said cap adapted to abutagainst the edges of the rail, said cap having Signed at Chic-ago this 30th day of Aue slot extending therethrough between said gust 1911.

shoulders, and a clamping member adapted EDVV. J. BLAR. to be inserted into said slot and to have the VVtnesses:

erllds thereof bent over to engage and secure EUGENE A. RUMMLER,

t e rail.

EDWIN PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

